The Hideaway
Traveler (226)
Sunset on 'Eau
Room & Suite (38)
Dining (21)

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About

#1 of 2 guest houses in 'Eua Island
Location
4.6
Rooms
3.8
Value
4.5
Cleanliness
4.1
Service
4.6
Sleep Quality
4.2
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Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Family
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
Beach
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Airport transportation
Non-smoking hotel
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Shuttle bus service
Room features
Room service
Kitchenette
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites

Location

'Eua Island Tonga
Getting there
Kaufana Airport
1.4 mi•
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Fua'Amotu Intl Airport
13.9 mi•
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Traveler rating
  • 187
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  • 16
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  • 7
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Detailed Reviews
Lisa R wrote a review Jul 2024
5.0 of 5 bubbles
This b&b is great..but what is best are the people that run it. Your breakfast comes your way. You have a problem..they fix it. We had a large gathering. A large family contingency leapt unto the property...we were met with gracious smiles & hospitality.
I never felt more at home & thankful of being in their company.
Thank you Adam..we will see you again when we decide not to have to brave the elements...comfort lies within your walls.
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Date of stay: July 2024
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Call ahead if you need a ride from the dock.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JB999_13 wrote a review Oct 2013
Whangarei Heads, New Zealand
+1
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We spent 6 nights on E'ua (arrived by ferry $20T one way) and all of them at the hideaway. We stayed in the older green fales which are a good size with comfy beds as well as partial views of the sea. However, the walls are very thin (you can hear next doors "intimate" moments) and the showers can be a bit iffy (runs off gas and is either scorching hot or cold). I would probably go for the newer fale's next time. The food was pretty good but I would have liked some fresh fish as all we ate was frozen tuna (pretty common throughout Tonga). A couple of guys from Rotorua went fishing with some local guys and the hideaway let them cook their fish in the kitchen which they shared with us which was yum!

The hideaway specializes in organizing activities. We did an unguided trek which was well worth it - especially the rats cave lookout over E'ua National Park complete with circling tropic birds nesting in the cliff face. Armed with a hand drawn map we manged to find our way round on the treks but a guide might be nice to give a bit of local background and knowledge. Also, give yourself longer to do the treks if you want to have a decent look around as we were told it would take 3 hours for one trek but we happily took around 5. If your stuck for time a 4WD tour could be a good option. We also cycled to the southern end to check out the archway and sea cliffs. A highlight for us was seeing a barn owl and watching the brown boobie seabirds nesting on the cliff. We were into bird watching and found trying to get up close to the red E'ua parrot difficult as they are extremely wary of humans (sadly they are still captured by the locals and we spotted a couple in a cage on the ferry back to Nukualofa). Oh, and make sure you thoroughly check your bike ($30T a day) before heading off as we had a catastrophic failure with one of them.

We also did a couple of dives ($300T for cathedral + reef dive) and did a wee bit of snorkeling at the beach 5 minutes walk from hideaway. I recommend snorkeling off the reef here only when it's calm and the waters not draining out of the lagoon on low tide (there's a channel to get out through the reef from the lagoon and the current can be strong). Bring your own snorkeling gear.

Probably the highlight for me was swimming with the whales ($200T). A local fisherman Kiko took us out and Sione was our guide in the water. Kiko had his son on shore spotting also and he got us onto the whales. Whether you swim with whales or not depends on the day so manage your expectations and you might get lucky. Some other guests went out the day before and didn't swim with whales (although they went with a different operator). I would recommend going with the local guys. I highly recommend swimming with whales in E'ua as we were the only boat out and there were only 4 of us so we always got in the water. Plus Kiko and Sione are lovely :)

Overall, the hideaway is the best place to stay in E'ua and is good value for money. We had a great time.
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Date of stay: October 2013
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
critterz wrote a review Nov 2012
Auckland Central, New Zealand
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Some 5 star hotel freaks may wonder how you can give 5 stars to a place like this, but to a great many kiwis, the overall feel of a place is far more important than the size (or lack) of an ensuite or things being exactly on time. 'Island style' and 'Island time' are two phrases alive and thankfully thriving here.
Taki & Naite are fantastic hosts, food much better than originally expected (if you want them to do you a suckling pig over a spit, let them know and allow them a day or 2 to catch one) & mind blowing whale watching/snorkeling experience. After a few days you barely bothered to look up from your coffee at breakfast to see them breaching just off the point.
We were there as a group of a dozen or so on a boys trip, and think we were the exception rather than the norm, so if we weren't there it would have been pretty quiet. Some of the other guests may have found us a little annoying, but we took it as a good sign that the staff bought out the guitar & ukulele and stayed up with us.
In summary, a great relaxing place to stay (take a book & pack of cards), and amazing whale watching.
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Date of stay: August 2012
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
3.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LeeH84 wrote a review Jan 2016
Puerto Morelos, Mexico
1.0 of 5 bubbles
The place was almost always empty. Even getting dinner seemed too much. The staff seemed to be in a kind of groggy daze, like they'd just woke up, most of the time. Everything seemed to be an effort for them, and I got the feeling they'd be happier if no guests were there.

The room was OK. Shower cold sometimes, but that wasn't a problem. The grounds are very run down. This place is also miles away from anything worth seeing. In retrospect I'd have tried the dive lodge in town instead.
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Date of stay: January 2016Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebecca M wrote a review Oct 2016
Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia
+1
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We flew over on a very tiny plane and were greeted at the airport. The flight over is only about 10 minutes and is a great start to the Eua adventure. We traveled with our two sons aged 10 and 12 and they absolutely loved the Hideaway. I don't think they even noticed there was no TV - they were too busy running around, climbing trees, playing with the puppies and pigs. There is a short walk through the bush to beaches for snorkeling and swimming. The platform at the waters edge to was a great place to sit and spot whales and watch the sunset.

Naite, Fua, Marta and all the people at the Hideaway are so lovely and were more than happy to spend time talking about interesting things to do on the island and finding something to suit your interests and fitness level. On my birthday they surprised me with cake, wine and kava! How great is that!

The way the common areas are set up really encourages guests to get to know one another and at dinner time everyone tended to share their stories of the day. The kids really enjoyed the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and it very much enhanced the experience. I loved being able to sit at the table, eating my breakfast or lunch and seeing whales swim passed. Amazing.

Marta is a terrific guide on the whale swim and its easy to organise these trips with the Hideaway. My tip: If you even have the tiniest suspicion that you might get seasick, take the serious medication! It is a small boat and you don't want to miss this experience. My husband became completely addicted to swimming with the whales and went 3 days in a row. We are hoping to go back next year.
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Date of stay: September 2016
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lamorna O wrote a review Nov 2015
5.0 of 5 bubbles
If you want to get away from bustling , this is a great place to go... first accept a day either way on your travel as ferries or flights don't always run on the day they should according to internet searches . Be prepared to work in with the kitchen staff who need a bit of advance warning about what you'd like to eat tonight , like what has come in today in fish , don't try to order a hamburger ( what's that?) you might be disappointed , Local free range chicken was good. Good to see the local forestry replanting red cedar, mahogany, pine. Wifi in reception area.Free initial load.
Mossies were minimal in the rooms . Listen to the advice before trying to walk 15km: you will enjoy your stay much better in this special environment if you do . Some locals get around on horseback, you can too. Excellent hostess in Naite.
We were here on honeybee research & training and Rotary solar lights .
Read more
Date of stay: November 2015
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Traveled on business
Room Tip: one where the hot water works .. they will fix it if it doesn't but hot water was great:)
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James S wrote a review Feb 2015
+1
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I stayed at the Hideaway on 'Eua Island for a weekend Feb. 21-23, 2015, and I loved every minute of it! Taki and Naite are very friendly and helpful, and they treat you like one of the family. If you are looking for a fancy hotel with the luxuries of a Western tourist resort like cable TV, cruise-ship lifestyle, etc., then please don't go to the Hideaway. That's not what they are trying to be. But the Hideway is perfect if you want an authentic experience of Polynesian island life with a friendly Tongan family. It's great! As Taki said when he picked me up at the airport, "The Hideway is my home." At the Hideaway, I truly got a taste of rural Tongan life on 'Eua, including delicious home-cooked food and many great sightseeing "eco-tourism" options like hiking in a tropical rainforest, small rural villages, beautiful coastline views, etc. Clean cheerful rooms, private bathroom/shower, electric fan. I wasn't there during the whale-watching season, but that would be great, too. The Hideaway is in a spectacular location facing a beautiful coral reef, with sunset over lush tropical plants all around, and relaxing outdoor deck chairs to relax and enjoy the scenery. In my room, I feel asleep to the sound of the ocean every night. There is also a peaceful white-sand beach about 10-15 minutes away by walking (either walk the path through the dense forest next to the coast or walk along the road through the village). The whole island is rural, laid-back, slow pace of life, relaxing. I rented a bike at the Hideaway, and rode through fascinating small villages with very friendly people. If you are looking for this kind of authentic experience of a peaceful, relatively "untouched" Polynesian island lifestyle, then I highly recommend the Hideaway. It was a very special opportunity to experience a Polynesian island, and I was very happy to get away from the "fancy" distractions of Western resorts. I loved it!
--Jim Stanford. I wrote this review on Feb. 28, 2015 in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.
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Date of stay: February 2015
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vomo2i wrote a review Sep 2014
Taranaki
4.0 of 5 bubbles
This was a repeat visit to the Tongan island of Eua to visit my uncles WW2 Soldiers grave. The Hideaway is always our choice for accommodation for a couple of reasons. We are treated like extended family, nothing is a problem for Naite and Tiake the owners. Its situated right on the beach with the huge blue whales July - October, just off shore. The ammenities are basic but the family atmosphere more than makes up for anything lacking. The erratic transport schedulescare beyond their control, the ferry didnt turn up two days in a row but its all part of the adventure! There is a small plane connecting to the mainland. The Hideaway have taken a personal interest in my uncles grave and we were touched to hear they had tramped up on Anzac Day to acknowledge him.
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Date of stay: September 2014
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GOWEREXPLORERS R wrote a review Sep 2014
Swansea, United Kingdom
1.0 of 5 bubbles
We had booked this accommodation several months in advance due to the information we had found stating that the Humpback Whales arrive in June, yes this is the case but very late June!
There are two Ferry’s which travel to Eau, the ‘tourist’ ferry and the ‘local’ ferry unfortunately own driver dropped us at the local ferry. This was a Saturday and a lot of the locals return or visit Eua for the weekend, meaning that there is a lot of cargo on board and is very busy. We wheeled our suitcases on board but then had to carry them to the cramped deck and with help from two locals store this on a platform. We were lucky that a locals helped us with that as would have been very difficult to do between us.
If there was a safety briefing this was given in Tongan, but we did not see any signs of life jackets the lifeboat we think was on the roof but did not look at all seaworthy!! This boat could only be described as a tug boat and did not feel very safe during the three hour crossing, the only positive was sighting some whales, enroute.
On arrival at Eua we had to ring The Hideaway as they thought we were arriving on the tourist boat.
The accommodation is very very basic, the light fitting was hanging from its wires, together with missing light bulbs. The room consisted of a double and single bed, and two small tables with a chair. There was a ceiling and upright fan, but no mosquito net, we luckily had our own to put up.
The room and bathroom were extremely dated with no care being taken to ensure that the little things were working.
There were two sun beds outside the room which were extremely uncomfortable and due to the position of the accommodation had no shade from the sun which meant you were unable to sit there.
The Hideaway is positioned over a small reef, the beach being a 15 min walk through a ‘bush’ walk. There is a platform over the lagoon which is in disrepair which is such a shame as would be a lovely place to sit however no shade or covers so can be very hot and uncomfortable.
The best part of our time there was a trip organised by The Hideaway of the island which was excellent and would recommend that.
We left after four days as should have been staying 14
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Date of stay: June 2014
2.0 of 5 bubblesValue
1.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VCLOZ wrote a review Mar 2014
Brisbane, Australia
3.0 of 5 bubbles
We stayed 4 days at the Hideaway late June. We had a room in the wing facing the sea.
Accomodation was basic and cleanliness was definitely not the forte (as I found out I had to dive under the bed to find pieces of lego...). There was no hot water (and it gets cold), the door of the bathroom did not close, the walls were being eaten by critters (dust everywhere and crunchy noise at night), louvres were missing from the windows and 2 of the light bulbs were dead. So it is basic, do not expect crisp white sheets !
The buidlings and garden could do with some maintenance, even basic.

A part from that, we did enjoy the time spent there. It is adventure after all.

We were looked after, picked up and dropped off from and at the airport. Food was fine, ask for what is available, not what is on the menu. We had nice weather the first day and then it rained so we had to cancel the other activities. The walk through the caves was great and our guide was really fun to be with. We also went to church and listened to the amazing singing and had the traditional Tongan cooking in the "modernised" Umu. We spent endless hours scrutinising the sea for whales from the dilapidated viewing platform.

We seriously missed fresh food and veggies. It seems impossible to buy anything fresh... unless you have your own plantation. The Hideaway is a good 30 min walk from the town and there is not much there.

Also, do not send postcards from Eua, they never arrived, I suspect the post people put the money in their pocket and never sent anything. Disappointing.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2013
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
3.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
3.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Answer from Deborah C
1 contribution
Hi I am a Canadian here now for 6 months and the Hide Away has been closed down indefinitely due to the damages of a severe storm in 2018. God sent me here to Eua and I cannot find a good place to stay so I am going to find a camping place if possible. The Deep Resort is an option for anyone visiting Eua. God Bless
Answer from Celia C
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii80 contributions14 helpful votes
September/October is the best month but you should still be okay. :)
Lisa R wrote a tip Jul 2024
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Call ahead if you need a ride from the dock."
Read full review
Sarah B wrote a tip Aug 2017
139 contributions30 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"The rooms connected to the main office and eating area are best as they have loungers out front and a view of the water."
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GRAHAM K wrote a tip Apr 2017
Gold Coast32 contributions11 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"In season you can watch the whales from outside your door. Or walk 50 metres to the seafront platform."
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Dorris W wrote a tip Sep 2016
Santa Cruz, California40 contributions3 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"rooms with ocean view are far superior in decor and ambience.they have a nice patio lounging area in front."
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kilrwat wrote a tip Sep 2016
New York City, New York41 contributions14 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"There are garden view and sea view rooms, but for all intents and purposes, you have access to the same views, etc."
Read full review
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ALSO KNOWN AS
the hideaway hotel `eua island
LOCATION
Tonga'Eua Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
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THE HIDEAWAY

Frequently Asked Questions about The Hideaway
What are some of the property amenities at The Hideaway?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at The Hideaway?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at The Hideaway?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Does The Hideaway have airport transportation?
Yes, The Hideaway offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are pets allowed at The Hideaway?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Is The Hideaway accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.